Politics
Columbus City Council Approves COTA Fare Ordinance, Residents Face Changes by January 2027
The July 7 vote sets a 25-cent single-ride increase on Central Ohio Transit Authority buses that takes effect at the start of next year.
How we reported this
Columbus City Council passed the COTA Fare Adjustment Ordinance on a 7-2 vote during its July 7 regular meeting. The measure raises the base single-ride fare from $2.00 to $2.25 and adjusts monthly passes accordingly. It applies to all COTA routes serving Franklin County residents.
Budget Pressures Prompting the Vote
The ordinance addresses a projected $4.8 million shortfall in the 2027 transit operating budget. Fuel and labor costs rose 11 percent over the past fiscal year according to the city's adopted budget document. Council members reviewed the figures during a June 25 committee session before bringing the full ordinance to the floor.
Franklin County commuters who rely on buses for work trips to downtown or the Short North will notice the added cost first. A daily round-trip rider currently paying $4.00 will pay an extra $2.50 per week once the new rates begin. Low-income households using the existing reduced-fare program will see their discounted rate rise from $1.00 to $1.25.
The legislation states that the increase is projected to generate $2.3 million in new annual revenue. That figure comes directly from the fiscal impact statement attached to the ordinance. The money will support existing service levels on 14 high-ridership routes rather than fund new lines.
Rollout Schedule for Riders
COTA must update fare collection systems and notify riders by December 1. New fare boxes will be installed on all 312 buses between October and December. Passengers who buy monthly passes in December will receive the current rate for one final month.
City staff will hold three public information sessions in September at the Linden, Hilltop and Near East Side branches of the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Printed schedules listing the new prices will be distributed on buses beginning in November. The changes remain in place through the end of the 2027 budget year unless council revises them in a future vote.